Waste of space or nice investment?

We use ours almost every weekend! It's so nice in the fall too when you're doing yard work to just have a fire going to warm up now and then.

Lots of people around here use the pits,I don't have one.There very popular here.
Mavis

I love having the firepit! Kids enjoy roasting weenies and marshmallows and I get a nice meditative space when they go off to bed.

We also have used it to cook. We took an old grate out of a grill and placed it over the coals. The steak and corn were delightful.

We love ours too. It seems to be an invatation for neighbors driving by to stop in for a visit.
owl

I have one of the terecotta fireplaces. I use it quiet often. Any scrap wood, limbs (that arent oak or mesquite or hickory or pecan or other wood I can use for my bbq grill) Goes on a pile to be burned in the outdoor fireplace. I burn cedar, hackberry, big weeds, bois d arc, pine, scrap boards and packing braces etc. Whatever I can find, we love it, and the kids have roasted weenies and marshmallows in it..We made toast, even toasted bologna sammiches one time. On a forked stick...

Are you talking about a fire pit dug into the ground or one of those tables with a well in the center for a fire?
I want a the hole in the ground type so I can burn off some of the brush that accumulates around here and not have to pay a $100.00 burn fee! It would be nice to be able to relax around the fire some evenings. You don't need to pay a burn fee if the fire is recreational apparently.
A friend of mine has one and its a great gathering spot.

I was wondering if you were referring to what I have. I have a device that is equiped to burn just charcoal... but it is big enough to burn wood in it. SO when the city firefighters come raging into your backyard.. You are just burning wood on your very legal "firepit" grill.
Actually.. At this hour.. my son and his friends are burning up wood on my "Firepit" grill. Which is a good thing.

Actually, this fire pit thing is wonderful because.. we burn up a lot of wood on it. I had stored my fallen tree limbs vertically in an old leaky garbage can so DS has been able to burn a lot of that totally full garbage can in just a short period. I shall have to use my fire pit as often as possible giving the cost of everything going through the roof and I have an ample supply of firewood!

I have a copper bowl which I haven't used as much as I'd like to. We may get it going this weekend. About 1/2 the time, even these are banned (although my yard is largely high sod, the forest is all around and when fire danger is high, only propane grills are allowed).

Still, it's such a treat I think it is worth it just for the occassional little fire.

M

huh. So this sounds pretty exciting!

I really like the idea of it. If anyone remembers my stone wall/slope project, I made a level sort of patio area above the lower wall. I wanted to put it there. I was thinking about making one, but after materials and all, it might be cheaper to buy one.

The idea of the fire department coming really scares me though! i'd be mortified if they came!!

How big is the fire in just a little fire bowl type thing?

Also, there are some large overhanging trees. Nothing within at least 20 feet or anything, but still. Do I have to worry about this? I'm in MD, so I don't think we really worry about fire danger days - especially in the fall.

But then again, we have tons and tons of leaves. Is it possible for a spark to fly, hit a dry leaf, all the leaves go up in flames, the fire travels up the trees, blows into neighboring houses and then everyone is evacuated? Then I'd really be mortified.

GT, thanks for asking this! I was wondering the same thing - if I'd use it. Sounds like it might work out, eh? We'd probably be smart to keep a water bucket handy when using it.

Greenish, don't let the what if's get to you. Do as Liz suggests and keep a bucket or hose nearby.

We do legal fireworks on the 4th of July if they aren't banned due to fire danger. We always have the hose on with a pressure nozzle, ready to go, as well as a bucket of water for the spent fireworks. Others shoot illegal bottle rockets and the pieces land all over the dry grass, but if we see any smoke, we just shoot it with the hose.

And the fire department is there for your benefit, so don't be mortified if you need them.

: )

M

Mine is a campfire style fireplace. Keep a hose nearby, dont burn on windy days, pay attention to fire bans.
First check with your town on any regulations. Some towns near me require a permit, some dont.

We used it a lot the first year or two. After that we don't use it much. Not much $$. Just some stones and we dug a hole.

We try to watch ours under the trees. Don't let the flames get too high or they will scorch your leaves.

It's not legal to burn in the city limits but I think burning wood in the fire pits is legal. I know they let us get by with it, there is a guy that burns wood on his grill right in his front yard which is on a busy street.

My goofy neighbors across the street are the ones who called the fire department on me and the kids once.